At least two people have been killed and several others wounded following a violent confrontation between rival cult groups in the Jato Aka community, situated within the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning, saw a clash erupt between factions locally known as the Red and Black cult groups, according to the Benue State Police Command.
Speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the fatalities and said that police responded swiftly following reports of the unrest.
“At about 10:30 hours on Wednesday, operatives attached to the Jato Aka Division responded to reports of a violent clash between rival cult groups,” DSP Edet said, noting that the confrontation resulted in the confirmed death of two male adults.
Police also revealed that several other individuals sustained varying degrees of injury and were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
In the aftermath of the violence, eight suspects have been detained in connection with the clash. The police have identified the arrested men and indicated that investigations are ongoing.
The command also reported that during the same operations, officers thwarted a separate armed confrontation near Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Government Area, killing a suspected bandit who engaged security personnel while attempting a kidnap.
Police reassured local residents of their commitment to restoring peace and urged communities to assist with credible information that could deepen investigations and prevent future incidents.
Cult-related violence has been a recurring concern in Benue and other parts of southern Nigeria, contributing to rising insecurity and community tensions.
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